Thiruvananthapuram | The Kerala government has sanctioned a bonus of up to Rs 4,500 and special festival allowance for state government employees and various other categories for the financial year 2025-26, officials on Saturday said.
As per the government order issued on August 14, employees eligible for bonus will receive one month's pay or Rs 4,500, whichever is less.
The bonus is applicable to state government employees, employees of aided educational institutions and employees of local self-government institutions whose total salary was up to Rs 49,275 under the 11th Pay Revision scale as on March 31, 2026, the order said.
Employees must have been in service as on March 31, 2026, and have completed at least six months of continuous service during the financial year 2025-26 to be eligible for the bonus.
The order said that employees who are not eligible for the bonus will receive special festival allowance at different rates depending on their category.
The allowance ranges from Rs 3,000 to Rs 1,250.
Personal staff of ministers, the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of Opposition and Chief Whip who entered service after the last Onam vacation, will be eligible for a special festival allowance of Rs 3,000.
ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, helpers and ayahs, palliative care nurses and BUDS school teachers and employees will receive Rs 1,450.
School counsellors will receive Rs 1,390, while additional staff of MLAs will receive Rs 1,350.
Service pensioners, family pensioners and other categories of pensioners will be eligible for a special festival allowance of Rs 1,250.
Employees and pensioners will be eligible for only one benefit, either bonus or special festival allowance.
The disbursement of the bonus and special festival allowance will commence from August 17, the order said.
The benefits for 2025-26 must be drawn and disbursed on or before March 31, 2027, it added.
